IMPRESSIONS OF A VISITOR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1632, 2 November 1916, Page 3

IMPRESSIONS OF A VISITOR.

PONTON’S GROWTH. SLOW, BUT SURE. (Mr A. W. Hogg.) About seven years have passed since 1 made my first trip to Foxton. It abounds with pleasing recollections of genial spirits by whom 1 was entertained right royally. Anyone that wishes incivility, or to be rubbed against the grain, should, in my opinion, keep away from Poxton. The town, 1 notice, has not changed to the extent that might have been expected. Unlike some other centres in the North Island, it lias not grown like a mushroom or a cabbage. Its progress has been more like that of a British oak or a native tulara. To quote a familiar expression, “if wasn’t born yesterday,” and it has had a lot of hard lighting, f saw evidence enough to convince me that it uas never been at a standstill. There is nothing stagnant about the quaint little town unless it is (ho water in some of the ditches, and very little of that: at least, not enough (o raise an epidemic, for it lias a well-de-served reputation for salubrity.

WATER SUPPLY. If the citizens have no high pressure water supply they have windmills and pumps and tanks, and besides the river underneath they have a fair share of rainfall I don’t: know th» Mayor and Council, not even by reputation, but I should say that municipally the borough is intensely Scotch. This does not mean (hat it is non-progressive or conservative, but it is cautious —slow, but sure. A Scotchman has been defined as “a man that keeps the Sabbath and everything else lie can lay his hands on.” There is one thing Poxton keeps—it keeps out of debt. Heavy borrowing and palatial buildings have been avoided, and the rates offer no hindrance to settlemen f.

THE POST OFFICE. Tlu‘ tinest building I noticed is Die -post mid telegraph office, and on this Eoxton can be congratulated. It is a two-storey edifice, of brick, and cement, decidedly ornate, and thoroughly up-to-date. The Public Works Department is to be commended for the erection of such buildings, seeing 1 that the General Post Office in every centre performs a, multitude of duties for the State as well as for the community. A DILAPIDATED COURT HOUSE. But other public buildings in Foxton are unquestionably behind the times. Justice may be impartial; she is blind; and here she is a blind beggar. If the post office and court house were placed alongside, one would have a good representation of Dives and Lazarus, or Landseer’s famous ‘‘Dignity and Impudence.” The police quarters is a modest little residence, but the court house, were it not labelled, might lie mistaken for a cowshed for the useful Jersey that grazes round the lock-up. Possibly civil and criminal business is far from brisk, a thing that need not he lamented, otherwise the neglected waifs would not he lolei’ated in the main street, but that is no reason why a lick of paint should not he spared to revive Die decaying weather-boards. Appa real ly, it Die municipal body has practised Scotch caution and refused (o raise loans, the Government has practised severe economy at (he expense of Foxlon. Admittedly the want of good public buildings is a serious disappointment, and perhaps Die Government will lake the hint, and remove its sackcloth and ashes. But if Die court holme is of primitive design, and looks dilapidated, there are law offices conveniently near and radiant of brick and gilt letter-* b‘g. A WELL-SUPPORTED PUP. A line two-storey public house —the Manawalu hole! —rises in Die vicinity, supported right and left by (lie Town Hall and Salvation Army barracks, and looking a concrete slate-covered church straight; in the face. Was ever a genial converted sinner enclosed in such invironment ? The church has evidently been well and truly laid, tor it has two foundation stones, one laid by (he Hon. C. M. Luke., and the other 1 by Mr G. H. Stiles. THE TOWN HALL. 'The Town Hal! has a rust lea led frontispiece embellished with a, marble slab hearing Die names of the Mayor and the members of the Council of that, date, and dated It is a commodious building, furnished with a good gallery and stage, and does duty satisfactorily for the pictures. 1 bad the pleasure of attending an entertainment in this ball, given in aid of the Tobacco Fund for our buys, and I have rarely witnessed a better concert af (he hands of local amateurs. The hall was brilliantly lit up with electric light; the stage was occupied with two or three dozen performers, chictly young ladies, appropriatelv costumed, and the vocal and instrumental music shows that Foxton has a wealth of talent. building progress.

Foxton is a compact town, and as a. business centre its progress of lute is undeniable. Signs of the setting in of a new building era ore reflected of a new building era are reflected by the shops and warehouses that are rising in brick and concrete above the blocks of wooden tenements that lined the Main Street only a few years ago. Whatever may be said about the public works

apathy of the Government, there has been no lack of enterprise on the part of the business people, who are erecting good tow-storey buildings and line shops with plate-glass windows. THE “HERALD.” Nor must 1 forgot the visit I made to an old and valued friend — the “Manawatn Herald”—one of the most ably conducted and well printed papers in this part of New Zealand. Here a linotype, or mechanical compositor, that can do everything but speak, is to be seen at work. Poxton is lucky to have such an advertising agent, and the printing office bears the hall mark of modernity, A BRIGHT OUTLOOK. Prom enquiries, I learn (hat (here are seventeen (laxmills within three miles of Poxton, all busily at work. Many tine residences have been built, by (lie country residents; steamers call regularly for hemp and other produce; every difficulty with the Railway Department over the wharf has been arranged, and a harbour rate will shortly be struck, and then Poxton will take a big leap forward. Meantime, apparently, it has no need to fear the future.